A bird can be as good for one's health as a dog, according to a pair of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Alan Beck and Dr. Aaron Katcher found caged birds can relieve their owners' stress better than a dog or a cat.

According to Better Homes and Gardens magazine, a lot of recent research already has shown a strong link between pet ownership and stress relief. With their naturally friendly dispositions, animals help us fight loneliness. What's more, people form a strong bond with their pets. Their unquestioning loyalty and love make pets easy to get along with. Even stroking a dog or cat for a few moments has been shown to significantly reduce stress.

The Beck and Katcher study revealed several possible reasons why birds are better at relieving stress than dogs or cats: Birds provide a calming visual stimulus, much as fish in an aquarium do.

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More important, people seem drawn to birds' verbal talents. Many folks spend hours talking to birds and stroking them in an effort to get them to chirp or speak.

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